Vietnam army helicopter crashes killing four crew members

A Vietnamese army helicopter has crashed in Ho Chi Minh City killing all four crew members including a senior lieutenant on board.

Top Vietnamese officials have confirmed the incident and said the aircraft lost contact with the radar minutes after takeoff.

Lieutenant General Vo Van Tuan, deputy chief of staff of People's Army, was quoted as saying by local reports that the Vietnam War era UH-1 Iroquois helicopter, nicknamed Huey, had crashed at about 07:00 local time during a training flight.

The helicopter was en route to the southern province of Tay Ninh, located nearly 100 kms from Ho Chi Minh City.

The wreckage and bodies of the soldiers have been found. The names of the victims are yet to be disclosed and the cause of the crash is yet to be ascertained.

The aircraft, capable of carrying up to 14 people, was powered by a single turboshaft engine with two-bladed main and tail rotors.